Vacuum cleaner



VACUUM CLEANER Filed July 11, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Hrs-.1.

WALTEE 5TEWA/CT March 29, 1932.

' w. STEWART VACUUM CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 11, 1928 firm"up Patented Mar. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE WALTER STEWART,OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE APEX IELEGTRICAL MANU- FACTURINGCOMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO VACUUM CLEANERApplication filed July 11,v 1928. Serial No. 291,951.

This invention relates to vacuum cleaners and in particular airrenovating and conditioning devices used in connection therewith.

In the ordinary operation of the conventional portable vacuum cleaner,dust and dirt are siphoned by the cleaner from the object that is beingcleaned. The dust and dirt are then separated from the air by means of acloth bag or other filter and the air is then returned to the room inwhich the cleaning is being done.

Even a hasty cleaning of the floor covering of a room' will cause avolume of airequal to several times the volume of the room to passthrough the vacuum cleaner. As this air is very apt to carrymicro-organisms and disease germs which are too small to be trapped inthe dust bag ofthe cleaner, it is highly advantageous from a hygienicstandpoint, to disinfect the air before it is exhau'sted from thecleaner and returned to the room.

I am aware that prior to my invention, disinfecting and air treatingdevices have been proposed for vacuum cleaners. Those with which I amfamiliar accomplished this object by placing a screenv of air perviousmaterial across the path of the air in the cleaner. The screen had beenpreviously impregnated with a disinfectant or perfume, or a combinationof both so that the air in passing through the screen would carry off acertain amount of the vapor of the impregnating substance.

This arrangement is satisfactory for a short time but is objectionablebecause of the frequent necessity of renewing the disinfectantdue to thesmall capacity of the material of the screen and the rapid rate ofdissipation caused by the rush of air through the screen. Anotherobjection inherent to this arrangement is the necessity of frequentlycleaning the screen, the-pores of which rapidly become clogged with dustand dirt reducing the efficiency of the cleaner to a marked deree.

One of the objects of 1ny invention is to provide an air renovatingevice for vacuum cleaners that does not impair the efliciency or retardthe air flow of the vacuum cleaner.

Another object of my invention is to provide a disinfectant dispensingdevice for vacuum cleaners that has a very high absorption for liquidsand which may be easily and inexpensively manufactured.

device that can be readily and easily manufactured, that occupies theminimum space in the cleaner, and that does not retard the passage ofair therethrough, allowing the cleaner to operate at maximum eiiiciencyat all times, and allowing the device to be used for an extended periodof time without losing its efiectiveness and'without affecting theefiicient operation'of the cleaner.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention, will become morefully apparent as the description thereof proceeds, and will then bemore-specifically defined in the appended claims. a I

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:I

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing myimproved air renovator in operative position in a vacuum cleaner. Figure2 is a sectional view taken from line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan elevational View, of my improved airrenovating ring.

Referring to Figure 1, wherein one method of using my improved airconditioning 'device is illustrated the reference numeral 1,91%indicates the motor casing of a vacuum cleaner. A suction fan 2 isconnected in driv: ing relationto the motor, (not shown) for air-suctioncreating purposes; Before the dust and dirt-laden air reaches thesuction fall it passes through a filter-ba'g 3, that is located in thebag-housing 4:. The bag 3' is held in place by a removable cover'5,that'is in turn'connected to the suction-hose 6which terminates inthe cleaning-nozzle 7. An'airrenovating or conditioning ring 8 is positioned between filter-bag 3 and the suctionfan 2. This ring iscylindrical in cross-section and is made from any suitable material thatis capable of absorbing a large volume of liquid. Cotton wicking 12 hasbeen found .useful for this purpose. Other materials could be used forthe ring, cotton being chosen because it is inexpensive and readilyobtainable.

The wick 12, is encircled by a coil of wire 9, the contiguous turns ofwhich are spaced about a quarter of an inch from each other. At the endportions of the coil the coil turns are in contact with each otherforming spirally wound tubes of slightly different diameter ing or tothe air and at the same time exerts a germicidal and disinfectingefl'ect on the air circulated by the vacuum cleaner. 'It will be readilyunderstood that ring 8 may be impregnated with any suitable liquid,depending upon the object to .be accomplished. When it is desired tomerely scent the air, oil of roses or any other perfume may be used.When it is desired to purify the air, any one of a number of vaporizableliquid disinfectants may be used. As so impregnated the Wick issubstantially impervious to air.

The bottom of the bag-housing is formed by a metal plate 15 formed as asurface of revolution and located closely adjacent to the suction-fan 2,its center being formed with an opening 16 for the passage-0f air. Thisserves to constrict the air stream after it leaves the bag, and it isbetween the bag and this constrictingmeans that my evaporator islocated.

It is to be understood that while I have shown the preferred form of myinvention as an example, such changes may be made therein as fall withinthe scope of the appended claims, without departure from the spirit ofthe invention and the principle involved.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a vacuum clean, in combination, a suction device adapted to inhaledust and dirt-laden air, means to separate the dust and dirt from theair, whereby only cleaned air is discharged therefrom, and an annularporouselement impregnated with a vaporizable substance located in thepassage of the cleaned air and having the opening therethrough of a sizeto permit passage of such air substan tially without restriction.

2. A disinfectant dispensing ring for vacuum cleaners and thelikecomprising an annu lar Wick of highly absorbent material, anda wire coilada ted to encircle and to provide a connection fbr the ends of saidwick.

3. A vapor dispensing device for vacuum cleaners and the likecomprising, an annular wick of high liquid absorbing properties, aprotective and shaping coil encircling said wick and contiguous turns ofsaid coil being spaced from each other exposing the major portion of thewick the end turns on said coil being in contact with each other and ofdifferent diameter so that the coil ends 5. In a vacuum cleaner, incombination, a

collecting nozzle, an air filtering bag, a centrifugal fan adapted toproduce an inflow of air into said nozzle and an outflow of the samethrough said bag, a centrally apertured partition located between saidbag and fan, and an annular absorbent element located between said bagand partition and adapted to be impregnated with a vaporizable substanceto be delivered to the air-stream, the

aperture through said element being at least as large as that throughthe partition.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

WALTER STEWART.

